Shoja the most beautiful destination in Himachal Pradesh

Shoja is a small village in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is 5 km away from the Jalori Pass which connects Shimla with Kullu District. Shoja lies about 2,368 metres above sea level. Visitors can get a view of the snow covered Himalayan ranges from this area. Shojha is a small village sitting quietly in the middle of wilderness and panorama. Its untouched beauty might be just the thing that you need to relax and unwind. Located amid the Banjar Valley, the village is dotted with several temples made of wood.At a mere distance of 5 Kms from Jalori pass, Shojha has pleasant weather throughout the year. With verdant deodar forest covering the area with snow peaked Himalayas hovering on one side,this village is packed with tourist attractions like fort, lake and waterfall.

Shojha is a beautiful getaway for families and a romantic hideout for lovers. Anyone looking to get away from the city life will enjoy their time here. Shoja makes for an excellent choice for enthralling nature centric experiences. You can trek, learn about wildlife, discover varieties of plants, have a
splendid time bird watching or just walk by the beautiful green meadows of the small village. Only 5 km away from Jalori Pass, Shoja is a part of the Great Himalayan National Park and has a rich variety of rare species of flora and fauna. In birds, you can find the state bird of Himachal Pradesh Monal
here. Other than that, Indian Blue Robin, Nutcracker, White-throated tit and can be spotted here. Plant lovers will be delighted to spot oak, conifer, bamboo, alpine meadows here. In higher altitudes, animals like blue sheep, snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, musk deer, etc. are found. Sitting around the bonfire under the starlit sky with the cold wind blowing in your hair is an amazing experience in itself.

Shoja, the most beautiful destination in Himachal Pradesh is located 69 KMs from Kullu at an elevation of 2692 m from sea level. Tourists who want to get immersed in the beauty of wild nature should not miss out the Shoja trip. The entire place is a nature’s bounty with wild flowers scattered meadows,  thickly wooded forests, burbling streams, gushing rivers etc. Shoja’s unspoiled beauty makes it fast upcoming tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh. This little hillock also has a Raghupur Fort for the tourists to pay a visit. The pleasant weather condition will uplift the soul of every human. Shoja also has a lush grass meadow termed as Dough Thatch nearby it.

Located in the district of Kullu in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Shoja enjoys a climate which is similar to the other places nearby such as Manali and Kasol.The best time to visit Shoja is during the summer months and the monsoon months, that is, from April to October.

Jalori Pass, Shojha

Nestled in the peaks of northern Himalayas lies the Jalori mountain pass, an undiscovered beauty located between the prominent towns of Kullu and Shimla. Perhaps one would recognise it better as the snow-covered summit in the Bollywood film "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", where actors Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone are seen trekking through the mountainside. With scenic views of the snow-capped Himalayan landscape and the fresh mountain air to surround you, the hike through Jalori Pass has much to offer with exquisite flowers, birds and the environment for a surreal experience.

Once you reach the pass, the trek winds through the faraway mountain range, providing a quiet respite from the bustle of everyday life. It is a moderate level trek seated amidst large coniferous forests, and can be best covered between the seasons of mid-June to mid-October, when traversing through the snow is a manageable feat. The pass remains closed during the winter months of December to January due to heavy snowfall.

At a distance of 73 km from Kullu, 79 km from Mandi, 20 km from Banjar and 5 km from Shoja, Jalori Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 10,800 ft above the sea level,situated in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.Jalori Pass is one of the favorite places for trekkers, bike riders and adventure lovers. It comes on the way to Banjar Mountain ranges of Himalayas. Mahakali temple known as Jalori Mata is a famous place visited by thousands of devotees. The area of Jalori Pass is a natural paradise to find the seasonal blossoms along with bountiful of flora and fauna amidst the pristine solitude of the highlands.Jalori Pass is the starting point for two easy but interesting treks which makes it a worthwhile place to visit. One is Sareolsar Lake trek. A 5 km trek from the top of Jalori pass brings on to the tranquil surrounding of Sareolsar Lake whose unpolluted water is crystal clear. This lake is tranquil and known for being the seat of local goddess Budhi Nagin. It's an extraordinary place to visit but there is no means of transportation so you have to go on foot. Other one is Raghupur Fort trek which is 3 km from Jalori Pass. This picturesque fort was built by a Kulu king. The fort is surrounded by wide trenches with a small pond inside. The walls of the fort are marked by bullet holes from sieges.It is locally known as Jalori Jot and it is typically accessible only between April and November. It receives as much as 20 feet of snow in the winters and the roads become inaccessible. The route usually opens around second week of March every year and closes mid December depending on the snow.

Waterfall Point, Shojha

A long silent walk through the nature with gurgling sound of water can do wonder to your senses. At a mere distance of 1 Km from Shojha, the waterfall point is a magical journey that spellbinding and beautiful.A best place for your morning walk, you will find the water of the fall sweet and cold. Make sure you do not miss this place at any cost!

Serolsar Lake, Shojha

Serolsar Lake is a small but beautiful lake, situated at a distance of around 5 km from the Jalori pass in Shoja. A popular temple in the region, dedicated to the local Goddess, Budhi Nagin, is placed nearby. Goddess Budhi Nagin is known as the protector of the region and is believed to have one hundred sons. This lake is bounded by thick oak woods on all the sides.

Raghupur Fort, Shojha

Raghupur Fort, located at an elevation of 3540 m above sea level is the only historic site present in the town of Shoja. It is a beautiful fort with big ditches and fish ponds.Visitors can spot holes on the walls of the fort, which were made in the past by bullets. Situated in a picturesque location, the fort gives tourists a panoramic view of the valley of Tirthan and the Himalayan ranges. Apart from this, travellers will also see shepherds grazing their cattle on the slopes of the mountains.what makes visiting this fort more fun is the way to reach it. A walk or rather a climb of 3 Kms from Jalori Pass, the path gets steeper during last kilometer. The way is covered with lush green oaks and rhododendrons with great Himalayas in backdrop. A small pond is present within the premises of the fort.

Tirthan Valley, Shojha

It is a place that will quench your thirst for amazing wildlife and fishing. Trithan valley is famous for housing the Great Himalayan National Park, the best spot for angling; several steps have been taken to protect the belt from undesirable impacts. The place is quite famous among the tourists.

How to Reach

Air
          The nearest air base to Shoja is the Kullu Manali Airport, also known as the Bhuntar Airport, situated at a distance of around 80 km from the destination. This airport is well connected with other Indian cities like Dharamsala, Pathankot, Shimla, Chandigarh, and New Delhi. The Indira Gandhi International Airport located in Delhi is the nearest airport catering to international travellers.

Rail
          The closest railhead to Shoja is the Joginder Nagar Railway Station, situated at a distance of around 164 km. The station is well connected with other major cities in India via Chandigarh. Tourists can take buses for Shoja from outside the railway station.

Road
     Travellers can avail buses for Shoja from Kullu that ply on a regular basis. Kullu is connected with major places in Indian via state bus services of the HPTC. Tourists can also board deluxe buses from
Shimla, Pathankot, Chandigarh, and New Delhi or Hiring private taxis and cabs is another suitable option.